Philippine Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon extended the use of the manual processing of export declarations (ED) to June 11 from the original target of June 1 to allow exporters to comply with the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS) requirements.

In a memo dated May 31, 2012, Biazon said the adjustment will allow exporters not yet accredited under the CPRS to process and complete their applications. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to use the electronic-to-mobile Automated Export Declaration System (AEDS) and export.

In his memo, the commissioner said, “… the Bureau of Customs, responsive to the appeal of some sectors, has agreed to a transition period to allow those who have not completed the prerequisites to AEDS processing to comply with all the requirements. During the 10-day transition period, those with pending requirements will be allowed manual processing of their export transactions. Effective 11 June 2012, the end of the l0-day transition period, e2m AEDS processing will be strictly enforced without exceptions.”

The request to slide the mandatory electronic processing came from the Export Development Council (EDC) Executive Committee and the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT). In a meeting with the Commissioner and other top BOC officials last May 30, RDC and PHILEXPORT representatives expressed concern over the negative implications to exporters and the country if exporters are not able to ship their orders because of incomplete or unfiled CPRS.

Deputy Commissioner for Management Information Systems & Technology Group Ma. Caridad P. Manarang noted that prior to the June 1 mandatory implementation, the BOC already gave exporters one year to comply with the requirements and even encouraged them to undergo pilot runs. However, she said none of the Metro Manila-based exporters, including those already with CPRS accreditations, participated. There were a few pilot tests recorded in the regions and provinces though, she noted in the same meeting.

PHILEXPORT, the umbrella organization of exporters with about 4,000 members nationwide, is one of the accrediting bodies for the CPRS. The others are the economic zone authorities for their locators; the Board of Investments for companies registered with it; and the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion for coffee exporters and those accredited under the Export Development Act.

E2M-AEDS covers EDs processed at the Export Division of the BOC and at the PHILEXPORT One-Stop Export Documentation Center for loading at all BOC ports nationwide. Airports will be covered by the implementation starting August 1.

As a pre-requisite to using the E2M-AEDS, exporters, as well as their authorized forwarders/brokers and/or exporter’s representatives, must be registered under CPRS for exports. A separate CPRS and automated import documentation system is also being implemented for importers.

In lodging their ED entries, exporters may choose among three BOC accredited value-added service providers (VASPs): InterCommerce Network Services, Cargo Data Exchange Center and E-Konek Pilipinas. The VASPs have been conducting separate orientation seminars to help exporters, their representatives and service providers to be familiar with the system.